In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Wedding Band. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The setting of the show is a small city by the sea in 1918 South Carolina. The play takes place in a small community of 3 houses and particularly, in one woman’s backyard. The play is dominated by a group of black women: Julia, Fanny, Mattie, and Lula. They are neighbors. Julia is moving in to one of three houses. The setting describes the center house as being newly painted and neat while the other two are quite drab.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? NOTE: Arguments might be made for several different points where stasis is broken. Be prepared to defend your point of view, if different from other students.
The intrusion happens at the end of act 1, scene 2 when Herman falls ill with influenza. This causes the women to have to care for a white man which complicates matters. They cannot call a doctor because - “Over my dead body, it’s against the damn law for him to be layin’ up in a black woman’s bed.” This also forces Herman’s mother and Julia to interact with one another. Herman’s mother didn’t know that his son was in a relationship with a black woman.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor is that Julia is moving into this community. She is an outsider and her relationship with Herman directly causes the intrusion and the rest of the dramatic action to occur.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Julia and Herman be able to get legally married? Will Julia and Herman move north? Will Herman survive?
5. Use Julia to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual or individuals, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles in the play.
Julia’s primary want and objective is to marry Herman. However, due to the nature of society at that time, they cannot be legally wed. Therefore, the primary struggle is between Julia and society. Her relationship is deemed wrong and against nature and therefore, Herman and Julia must struggle against society. She also struggles with her personal identity as a black woman and therefore elements of “me against myself” are also present.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Wedding Band. Herman collapsing after falling ill is an example of a theatrical moment.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Wedding Band. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”) The image of the wedding band around Julia’s neck is quite powerful. The wedding band is obviously a visual representation of matrimony. However, because it’s around her neck, it conveys the idea that the state of the relationship limits Julia’s freedom.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Wedding Band.
Race Marriage Poverty
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Wedding Band? Perhaps you might argue for several different kinds of family in this particular play. What do you think? Despite the fact that Julia and Herman cannot marry, they are still a family unit. They operate together as a family and share love, commitment, and respect. Similarly, the play also emphasizes the family unit between mother and daughter through Teeta and Mattie’s relationship. It also conveys the important roles strong female characters play in nontraditional family structures.
The setting of the show is a small city by the sea in 1918 South Carolina. The play takes place in a small community of 3 houses and particularly, in one woman’s backyard. The play is dominated by a group of black women: Julia, Fanny, Mattie, and Lula. They are neighbors. Julia is moving in to one of three houses. The setting describes the center house as being newly painted and neat while the other two are quite drab.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? NOTE: Arguments might be made for several different points where stasis is broken. Be prepared to defend your point of view, if different from other students.
The intrusion happens at the end of act 1, scene 2 when Herman falls ill with influenza. This causes the women to have to care for a white man which complicates matters. They cannot call a doctor because - “Over my dead body, it’s against the damn law for him to be layin’ up in a black woman’s bed.”
This also forces Herman’s mother and Julia to interact with one another. Herman’s mother didn’t know that his son was in a relationship with a black woman.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor is that Julia is moving into this community. She is an outsider and her relationship with Herman directly causes the intrusion and the rest of the dramatic action to occur.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Julia and Herman be able to get legally married?
Will Julia and Herman move north?
Will Herman survive?
5. Use Julia to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual or individuals, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles in the play.
Julia’s primary want and objective is to marry Herman. However, due to the nature of society at that time, they cannot be legally wed. Therefore, the primary struggle is between Julia and society. Her relationship is deemed wrong and against nature and therefore, Herman and Julia must struggle against society. She also struggles with her personal identity as a black woman and therefore elements of “me against myself” are also present.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Wedding Band.
Herman collapsing after falling ill is an example of a theatrical moment.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Wedding Band. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The image of the wedding band around Julia’s neck is quite powerful. The wedding band is obviously a visual representation of matrimony. However, because it’s around her neck, it conveys the idea that the state of the relationship limits Julia’s freedom.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Wedding Band.
Race
Marriage
Poverty
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Wedding Band? Perhaps you might argue for several different kinds of family in this particular play. What do you think?
Despite the fact that Julia and Herman cannot marry, they are still a family unit. They operate together as a family and share love, commitment, and respect. Similarly, the play also emphasizes the family unit between mother and daughter through Teeta and Mattie’s relationship. It also conveys the important roles strong female characters play in nontraditional family structures.